North Korea Unveils Wonsan Kalma Luxury Resort, Primed for Domestic and Russian Tourists
North Korea Unveils Wonsan Kalma Luxury Resort, Primed for Domestic and Russian Tourists
North Korea has officially opened the sprawling Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, a new luxury beach resort on its eastern seacoast. The ambitious project, which stretches across 2.5 miles of the Kalma Peninsula, boasts approximately 400 buildings, including high-rise hotels and villas designed to accommodate around 20,000 guests, alongside a water park, concert hall, and various commercial amenities.
While the resort began welcoming domestic tourists earlier this week, its grand opening last week, attended by Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Matsegora, signals a clear focus on a specific international market. Russian news agency Tass reports that the first group of Russian tourists is expected to arrive at Kalma next week, making them the primary foreign visitors to date.
The launch of the Wonsan Kalma resort highlights Pyongyang’s ongoing pursuit of economic prosperity, particularly through tourism, despite stringent international sanctions and the nation’s reclusive stance. Tourism remains one of the few legitimate sources of foreign currency for North Korea, a motivation Kim Jong Un has pushed since his early leadership, even as military advancements and deepening isolation have complicated these efforts. The resort’s construction, which began in 2016, faced multiple delays due to sanctions and the recent pandemic lockdown.
Analysts note the paradox of a luxury resort in a country where an estimated 60% of the population lives in poverty and freedom of movement is restricted. Despite Kim Jong Un’s vision for Wonsan to become a “world destination,” skepticism remains regarding its ability to attract a broad international audience beyond its closest allies, particularly given the heavy restrictions and surveillance imposed on foreign visitors.
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